The PartnerAfrika project has existed since 2022 and is a cooperation between the interest group Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg (UBW), sequa gGmbH and Arqum with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi and the business association Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
The goals of the PartnerAfrica project are:
- Promoting the transfer of knowledge on sustainability and energy efficiency topics in companies through training and joint cluster meetings,
- Raising awareness of sustainable economic practices and improving the education of KNUST students through a special course program on energy efficiency and environmental management,
- the networking of university and students with industry through the awarding of internships (paid via the project),
- Improved job opportunities for KNUST students, as well as more know-how and well-trained specialists for companies.
Successful project progress monitoring confirms the relevance of the PartnerAfrica project.
To evaluate the PartnerAfrika project, a project progress review (PFK) was recently conducted by an independent expert. The project was assessed based on the evaluation criteria developed by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The six evaluation criteria include the following points:
- RELEVANCE: Is the intervention advancing the right things?
- COHERENCE: How precisely does the intervention fit the target?
- EFFECTIVENESS: Does the intervention achieve its goals?
- EFFICIENCY: How well are resources being used?
- IMPACT: What difference does the intervention make?
- SUSTAINABILITY: Are the benefits lasting?
The project achieved good to very good results in all areas:
The independent expert also praised the rather unusual constellation – the involvement of a consulting firm – because of the technical depth and the suitability of the training and measures.
Positive aspects highlighted included the high proportion of women, the motivation of all participants for knowledge transfer, and the great interest of companies in hiring students after graduation.
Conclusion: The PartnerAfrika project makes an important contribution to the socio-ecological transformation.
The PartnerAfrica project has been successfully established. Eighty-five companies now participate in the "Sustainability Cluster" network. The educational programs at KNUST, and especially the company internships, are very popular with students. Therefore, the course offerings were further expanded in 2024. In addition to energy efficiency and environmental management courses, courses in occupational safety and quality management are now also offered. Initial consultations on sustainability topics were conducted as part of internships with 271 students at 52 companies. 127 company professionals received training in environmental management, occupational safety, and energy efficiency; further training measures are planned.
Implementing increasingly green and sustainable processes through innovative practical projects is proving difficult in Ghana due to economic challenges. Many companies are hesitant to invest, requiring considerable persuasion. However, the company internships have led to the development of various measures, which are now being implemented by the companies. Organizational efforts in 2024 are focused on ensuring that the new programs are firmly established at AGI and KNUST. This is crucial for continuing to make a significant contribution to the socio-ecological transformation.
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Your contact person at Arqum: Philipp Poferl